nPosted on December 5, 2018
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Today’s famous birthday, born on this date in 1782 in New York, was one of the founders of the Democratic Party – AND he was a political leader with a pretty primo resume:
Today’s famous birthday, born on this date in 1782 in New York, was one of the founders of the Democratic Party – AND he was a political leader with a pretty primo resume:n
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State Senator in New York
14th Attorney General of New York
State Senator in New York
14th Attorney General of New York
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nU.S. Senator from New York
9th Governor of New York
9th Governor of New York
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n10th U.S. Secretary of State
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n8th Vice President of the U.S.
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n8th President of the U.S.
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nHere are a few tidbits about Martin Van Buren:
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nHe was the only U.S. president to speak English as a Second Language. His first language was Dutch – even though he was born in New York!
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nVan Buren’s birth name wasn’t “Martin,” but rather the Dutch version, “Maarten.” He was the first U.S. President that wasn’t born a British subject (because he was born several years after independence was declared) nor of British ancestry.
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nIn 1931, President Andrew Jackson appointed Van Buren as the ambassador to Great Britain. But one of Jackson’s and Van Buren’s enemies was the Vice-President at the time, John C. Calhoun, and he led many senators into rejecting the appointment.
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Apparently Calhoun was elated and told a friend that Van Buren’s career in politics – at least at the federal level – would be over after that rejection. Calhoun reportedly said, “It will kill him dead, sir, kill him dead.”
Apparently Calhoun was elated and told a friend that Van Buren’s career in politics – at least at the federal level – would be over after that rejection. Calhoun reportedly said, “It will kill him dead, sir, kill him dead.”n
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nBut instead, Calhoun’s action against Van Buren made the latter more popular with Jackson and with many others in the Democratic Party – and that’s why Van Buren ended up being Jackson’s Vice President for his second term, and then president.
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nIn other words, Calhoun tried to destroy Van Buren but instead helped make him the head of state!
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Way back when Van Buren was young, he actually owned a slave (and his dad owned six slaves), although that one slave ran away and remained free for the rest of his life.
Way back when Van Buren was young, he actually owned a slave (and his dad owned six slaves), although that one slave ran away and remained free for the rest of his life. n
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nA New York born-and-bred slave owner? Remember, the north only got rid of slavery gradually from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.
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nWhen he ran for president, Van Buren tried to win the southern states by promising them that he was not an abolitionist, but as he got older, Van Buren became more and more outspoken in opposition to slavery. When many southern Democrats turned against him, Van Buren ran for a second term as president with a third party, the Free Soil Party.
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nAlso on this date:
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nWorld Soil Day
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nThe King’s Birthday in Thailand
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nPhysicist Werner Heisenberg’s birthday
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nSinterklaas in the Netherlands
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nDay of the Ninja (aka Creep like a Ninja Day)
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nDiscovery Day in Hispaniola
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nAnniversary of Mozart’s Death
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nEducator Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz’s birthday
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nInternational Volunteer Day
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nCheck out my Pinterest pages on:
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nHistorical anniversaries in December
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nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuary birthdays
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